Culips English Podcast: Practical English Learning Made Fun Learn and Explore: Join Culips for an exciting English learning journey. Our podcast focuses on teaching English idioms, slang, and phrasal verbs through fun and engaging conversations. Each episode helps you master English for real-life situations. Unique Learning Experience: Culips stands out by blending language skills with cultural insights. Our diverse hosts make learning relatable, covering a variety of everyday topics. You’ll pick up practical language skills and gain cultural understanding, enhancing your English fluency in an enjoyable way. Your Path to Fluency: As your ideal learning partner, Culips provides easy-to-understand lessons on daily English usage. Learn from native speakers and immerse in different cultures, making your English learning journey rewarding and effective.
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In this bonus episode, Andrew recounts a surprising experience during a winter bike ride when he was stopped by a Santa-costumed YouTuber filming content, leading to a brief, awkward interview. He then shares the challenges of a week at home after his wife contracted the flu, requiring him to manage household duties and care. The episode also touches on his dog's recent vaccination and a planned stay at a dog hotel while Andrew and his wife travel, detailing the health ups and downs in his household.
Happy New Year! For our first Simplified Speech episode of 2026, Andrew and Indiana answer some rapid-fire questions about their plans for this year. From home renovations to fashion predictions, you’ll hear them discuss exactly what they hope to achieve in the new year. By listening to this conversation, you will learn natural vocabulary and idioms for talking about your own future goals, changing your daily habits, and making predictions. Important links: Study with the interactive transcript ...
Join Andrew as he recounts his Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Seoul, exploring the quaint Buamdong district, indulging in bougie kimbap, and challenging his wife to a high-stakes whack-a-mole game. The episode offers a personal narrative interspersed with opportunities to pick up natural English phrases and storytelling language, while also announcing a special Culips membership sale.
In this special year-end episode, Andrew and Anna reflect on 2025 using 15 rapid-fire questions, sharing personal stories and insights. They discuss unexpected life events, happy memories, new habits they want to keep, and routines that fell apart. The conversation also covers memorable purchases, defining cultural moments, travel experiences, and personal achievements, offering listeners a candid look into their year and plans for 2026.
In this Culips episode, Andrew and his friend Luke talk about the Winter Olympics and why they are such a big deal in Canada. They chat about Olympic ice hockey, the return of pro NHL players, and the excitement and controversy around the next Games in Italy. You also hear them share their favorite winter sports, talk about strange Olympic events, and play a fun memory game where they try to name past Winter Olympic host cities. What you’ll learn with this episode: How to understand and use comm...
This episode explores practical ways to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals found in everyday household and beauty products. Andrew and Indiana share personal strategies, including using natural cleaners, avoiding specific ingredients like "fragrance," and making conscious choices about food storage and water consumption. They also address the broader challenges of chemical omnipresence and the importance of balancing caution with avoiding undue stress.
In this episode, Andrew recounts his experience participating in the 2025 JTBC Marathon in Seoul. He details his rigorous training, which led to multiple half marathon personal records, all fueled by a desire for "revenge" after a disappointing DNF in 2024. Despite a chaotic start and an unexpected group placement, he navigated the race, faced an on-course car accident, and battled mental and physical fatigue, ultimately achieving a significant new personal best and an emotional finish.
In this festive episode, Andrew and Indiana recap their holiday experiences, starting with Indiana's vegetarian Thanksgiving potluck and American traditions like parades and turkey trots, comparing them to Canadian customs. They then dive into the early start of the Christmas season, decorations in Seoul, cherished holiday baking recipes, and the debate around new Christmas music. The discussion concludes with the relatable stress of gift-giving and creative solutions for thoughtful presents.
In this episode, Andrew and Alina share a Culips Community Update and introduce the final monthly challenge of 2025. They chat about their personal highlights from the year, then invite you to join the December 2025 Challenge on the Culips English Podcast Discord server. This month’s theme is reflecting on 2025, sharing your wins, celebrating community, and looking ahead to realistic English goals for 2026. December 2025 Challenge: Year End Reflection Theme : Reflect on your year, your English j...
This Chatterbox episode delves into curiosity, defining it as the desire to learn and examining its psychological basis, including dopamine's role. Andrew and Anna share personal anecdotes about what sparks their interest, from historical facts to exploring new places, and debate whether curiosity is a blessing or a curse in adulthood. They also break down key vocabulary and idioms like "curiosity killed the cat" to help listeners describe their own inquisitive nature in English.
Andrew and Indiana delve into common ethical dilemmas, sharing their perspectives on tricky situations like splitting bills, dealing with a coworker taking credit for an idea, and confronting a friend's cheating partner. They explore the complexities of right versus wrong, weighing the pros and cons of various actions and discussing the societal expectations that influence our choices in everyday life.
What makes the perfect bachelor weekend? In this episode, Andrew explains the English proverb “When the cat’s away, the mice will play” by sharing what happens when his wife takes a trip to Japan. He talks about his simple list of things he’s looking forward to doing alone. Along the way, you’ll learn useful idioms and everyday expressions while getting an inside look at Andrew’s wild weekend. Don’t forget to check out the free interactive transcript and glossary to learn the idioms, phrasal ver...
Do you ever feel frustrated after a bad day at work, a test, or a long commute? In this Chatterbox episode, join Andrew and Anna for a conversation about frustration and how to talk about it clearly in English. In this lesson, you will learn how frustration is different from anger and disappointment, hear real stories you can relate to, and pick up useful expressions like “at the end of my rope,” “bang my head against a wall,” and “it has been one of those days.” You will also train your ear to ...
In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana chat about Indiana’s surprise 30th birthday trip to Las Vegas. You’ll hear how her husband planned the trip, what Las Vegas is really like, and how she felt when she discovered the big surprise he had prepared for her. Andrew and Indiana also talk about cultural expressions and ideas linked to Las Vegas, like “Sin City” and “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” What you’ll learn with this episode: How to talk about milestone birthdays, surp...
In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Indiana teach you two very common and useful English expressions for making comparisons: “apples to oranges” and “night and day.” These idioms help you describe situations where things are so different that it’s not fair or even possible to compare them. You’ll hear realistic examples, like comparing homemade food to the gorgeous dishes shared by influencers, or an old, outdated phone to a brand new one. What you’ll learn with this episode: How to use “appl...
What do you do when your favorite jacket starts to smell really bad? In this episode, Andrew shares a funny story about two expensive jackets that developed a terrible musty odor after being stored under his bed for the summer. He talks about trying different solutions, like leaving them in the sun, putting them in the freezer, and spraying them with fabric spray and even vodka. Listen as Andrew shares his experience and teaches you natural English expressions you can use in real life. Don’t for...
In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew catches up with Kassy, who returns to share exciting updates about her life. She talks about finishing her master’s degree, taking a long trip across the United States with her baby, moving to a new city in Korea, and adjusting to work after maternity leave. Kassy also shares her experience planning her son’s first birthday and explains a special Korean tradition called Doljanchi, where a baby chooses an item that predicts their future. You’ll learn how ...
In this episode, Andrew and Anna delve into the pervasive influence of algorithms, the hidden digital systems governing our online interactions. They discuss how these tools affect everything from shopping habits to entertainment choices, and even our beliefs, touching on concepts like 'echo chambers' and 'rage bait.' The conversation highlights the need for critical awareness and transparency regarding algorithmic bias and their role in significant life decisions.
What’s the best way to give money as a gift? In this episode, Andrew tells a story about hosting his wife’s family for Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving holiday. You’ll hear him talk about preparing a huge meal, fitting eight people into a small space, and turning gift-giving into fun games with cash prizes. Listen along to supercharge your listening skills. Don’t forget to check out the FREE interactive transcript and glossary to learn the idioms and expressions Andrew uses in this episode that ...
In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana talk about retirement. They chat about what it means, how it looks in different countries, and what people dream of doing after they stop working. You’ll hear them share real examples from the United States, Canada, and Korea and discuss ideas like second careers, semi-retirement, and common lifestyles for retirees. They also teach several useful English expressions connected to retirement, such as golden years , twilight years , nest egg , e...
Have you ever had a day that started off terribly but somehow became unforgettable? In this episode, Andrew shares the story of a rainy half marathon that began in total chaos and ended with a sweet surprise. You’ll hear real, everyday English as he talks about staying motivated, finding focus, and turning frustration into pride. You’ll also learn natural expressions that native speakers use, like “gong show,” “clock’s ticking,” “to blow by someone,” and “to steal someone’s thunder.” Join our fr...
In this episode, Andrew and Indiana get honest with each other about everyday things that annoy people. They talk about habits that “get on their nerves,” such as loud chewing, people using their phones while talking, overused clichés, bad driving habits, and even dog owners who don’t follow the rules. Along the way, your hosts explain useful expressions like “gets on my nerves,” and “grinds my gears,” so you can understand and use them the next time you want to complain to a friend! What you’ll...
In this episode, Andrew and Alina share updates about what’s new at Culips! You’ll learn about the second European meetup happening in Hamburg, Germany on October 18th. They also introduce the October challenge, which is focused on linking words that will help you create better-connected sentences. European Meetup #2 – Hamburg, Germany Date : Saturday, October 18th Time : 4:00 PM Location : People’s Place Cafe , Hamburg Cost : Free! Who can join : Everyone! No Culips membership required RSVP : F...
In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Indiana teach you two very useful English expressions: “cut someone some slack” and “give someone the benefit of the doubt.” These are common phrases that English speakers use to ask for understanding, forgiveness, or trust when someone is under pressure or when we are unsure about their actions. What you’ll learn with this episode: How to use “cut someone some slack” to ask for extra patience or forgiveness When to use “give someone the benefit of the doub...
What if you could speak with anyone, in any language, in real time? In this bonus episode, Andrew explores that idea with a clear, step-by-step look at live translation. He reads a news article and explains the key ideas and terms in easy to understand English, showing how Apple, Google, and Meta are pursuing the “universal translator” and what it could mean for travel, work, and daily life. What you’ll learn Meanings of “universal translator,” “seamlessly,” “coherent,” and “simultaneously” Tech...
In this episode of Chatterbox, Andrew and Anna talk about street smarts: the practical skills and awareness people should have in order to stay safe and confident in cities. They share personal stories about living in places like Madrid, London, Seoul, and Canada, and explain how experiences such as pickpocketing or mugging can change the way people think about safety. The hosts also compare life in big cities to life in smaller towns or the countryside, showing how different environments requir...
In this episode, Andrew and Indiana continue their fun conversation about things that are overrated or underrated. They share their opinions on topics like walking 10,000 steps a day, biohacking, pineapple on pizza, vinyl records, and even the idea of being famous. They compare their different views, tell stories, and explain why some things deserve more love while others are praised too much. 👉 Try iTalki to improve your English speaking skills! Use promo code **CULIPS** to get $15 in lessons ...
Do bad things really come in threes? In this episode, Andrew tells you four mini stories from his week that will make you wonder about this old superstition. From unexpected moments during his evening run to tech troubles that tested his patience, you’ll hear authentic English storytelling that takes you from frustrating lows to feel-good highs. You’ll improve your listening skills by hearing how Andrew tells stories in natural, everyday English. You’ll learn common expressions that native speak...
In this episode, Andrew and Indiana talk about Indiana’s recent trip to Colorado. She shares stories about all of the activities she enjoyed during her time there, such as attending a wedding, spotting mountain goats on a hike, and adjusting to the thin air of “the Mile High City.” Indiana also tells Andrew about trying local craft beers and visiting the surreal art installation called Meow Wolf. If you’re an intermediate English learner who wants to improve your listening skills while hearing a...
In this episode, Alina recaps the Culips meetup that happened in July, introduces the next Culips meetup, and tells you all about the September challenge! September Challenge: Let’s talk about work Theme : Work-related English (interviews, dress codes, workplace situations) How it works : New tasks every other day throughout September Answer work-related questions and scenarios Great chance to review skills from previous challenges Finish all the tasks to earn a completion certificate It’s compl...
